Inside Earth
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe the structure of Earth and how the pattern of earthquakes and volcanoes relate to Earth's tectonic plates.
Key learning points
- Earth is made up of four main layers: the inner core, outer core, mantle and crust.
- Together the upper mantle and the crust form Earth’s rigid outer layer: the lithosphere.
- The lithosphere is broken into large sections or tectonic plates.
- Most earthquakes and volcanoes occur at plate boundaries.
Keywords
Pressure - a force pushing or pressing on a given area
Density - density is the mass of something compared to its volume
Tectonic plate - the huge pieces that Earth’s crust is broken into
Plate boundary - the point where two tectonic plates meet
Common misconception
Earthquakes and volcanoes happen on tectonic plates.
Tectonic plates cover the whole world, this would mean they happen everywhere. The majority of earthquakes and volcanoes occur at plate boundaries (where two plates meet), though there are some which happen away from boundaries.
Teacher tip
A real or imaginary hardboiled egg can be used as a model: shell = crust, white = mantle and yolk = core, squeeze to crack the shell to show how the tectonic plates fit together. In addition, show students a globe and turn it round to the Pacific to demonstrate a Pacific centred map.
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is Earth's outermost layer called?
Q2.What is a volcano?
Q3.What is a volcanic eruption?
Q4.What is lava?
Q5.What is an earthquake?
Q6.Which layer of Earth contains magma?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What is pressure?
Q2.What is density?
Q3.Do earthquakes and volcanoes only happen on tectonic plates?
Q4.Which layer of Earth is primarily made of solid iron and nickel?
To help you plan your 8 geography lesson on: Inside Earth, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 geography lesson on: Inside Earth, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 geography lessons from the Tectonic hazards: Why is Earth restless? unit, dive into the full secondary geography curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.